Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing platform Apollo Go（萝卜快跑）signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Kazakhstan-based Turlov Private Holding Ltd. on July 16 to explore the introduction of autonomous-driving technology and mobility services in Kazakhstan.
The agreement represents Apollo Go’s first announced move into Central Asia and has been described by Chinese media as the first foray by a Chinese robotaxi operator into the region. However, the companies have not disclosed a launch timetable, target city, fleet size or regulatory pathway, meaning the partnership remains at an exploratory stage.
Under the agreement, Apollo Go and Turlov Private Holding will assess opportunities to introduce autonomous mobility services in the Kazakh market. Further details about the local company’s role in fleet operations, infrastructure development or regulatory coordination have not been announced.
The partnership adds another potential market to Apollo Go’s international expansion pipeline. The company has pursued projects in the Middle East and Europe, although these initiatives remain at different stages, ranging from planned testing to fully driverless operations.
According to Baidu, Apollo Go’s global footprint had reached 27 cities as of May 2026. The service had provided more than 22 million rides to the public as of April, while its vehicles had accumulated more than 330 million autonomous kilometers. These figures cover Apollo Go’s broader network and should not be interpreted as indicating full commercial operation in every city.
Kazakhstan is already preparing for the introduction of autonomous taxis. The government has been working with Yandex Qazaqstan and inDrive on pilot programs expected to begin in the second half of 2026. The projects are set to operate through a regulatory sandbox while the country develops rules covering safety, navigation and responsibility for autonomous vehicles.
Apollo Go’s agreement therefore does not give Baidu an uncontested position in Kazakhstan. It does, however, introduce a major Chinese robotaxi operator into an emerging market where the regulatory and commercial framework for autonomous mobility is still taking shape.
For Apollo Go, a future deployment in Kazakhstan would test whether technology developed through large-scale operations in China can be adapted to different road conditions, weather, driving behavior and regulatory requirements. A successful launch could also support the company’s efforts to expand into other emerging markets, but that conclusion will depend on regulatory approval and actual on-road deployment.
The agreement is also notable from the perspective of Chinese technology companies expanding abroad. Rather than entering solely through direct investment, Apollo Go is using a local partnership to explore market access. Kazakhstan’s position as a transport and commercial link between China and Central Asia gives the move broader strategic significance, although neither party has formally identified the project as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.